Chapter Text
Johnny spends time with his boys, more than he used to, and now he has a new cronnie who is a nice, polite freshman this year with bright eyes who transferred over from Vice City.
The kid's name is Rory, and he is jumpy as hell he speaks softly, or when he’s angry gets up in arms angrily staring up a storm his colorful language cementing him amongst the ranks of Norton, and Hal who work to learn from him. They all talk amicably in lapses when Johnny feels particularly lonely even when surrounded by his friends - his family he swallows the feelings down bares his teeth in a smile, and plays poker, fixes cars, or even bikes to help them out, or stay busy. If his schedule is never open he can’t feel lonely.
Meaning he’s been dragged into a Nerdy campaign of Grottos, and Gremlins, and on top of that he has taken up boxing regularly with Jimmy to keep his anger under control though he has spoken to the school counselor who helps him work through his bouts of anger though boxing is one of her suggestions, and he is happy to report he has already took it up.
He chats with his friends, and as School slows down highschoolers like Johnny, and Jimmy, Peanut, Darby, Biff, ect. Are swamped with tests, and summatives that will cost them that will look nice, and shiny on their report cards to get into colleges though Jonny knows he’s not going he is actually happy about school.
Amongst other able bodied people, people who share his ideals, people who he has bonded with over the course of highschool he relaxes back into his desk chair, and finishes his texts with a triumphant smile.
“Mr. Harlow, I'm done.”
The man nods nose scrunching in distaste before waving him off pointing at the door to the room. Johnny leaves bursting into the hall happily excited to get to the tenements, its movie night this week, and Norton bought a pirated version of something in theaters with some hotshot in it that has Vance super excited, Gord, and Parker are even showing up to watch it with them but amongst the moving bodies in the hall he is intercepted.
Hand on his elbow getting his attention he turns, and there is Peanut, dressed in his leather jacket hair immaculately styled into the pompadours the rest of the group wears he smiles at Johnny sneakily pulling him across the hall down there usual shortcut out of school to get to the bike racks faster than usual.
Johnny doesn't questioned don't break the restless excitement that fills the air as they bike back to the tenements where they all cuddle up on the couch to watch, popcorn, and treats dispersed amongst the few already there designated as the people who will need to share, and when Lola comes in Beatrice looking a mess on her arm a confident air about her Johnny wolf whistles, and Lola rolls he reyes laughing.
One of the many things he had learned over the last month, or so is that Lola, and Beatrice are a great couple, Beatrice despite being ‘timid’ shows her devotion to Lola in other ways that has the much cockier woman wrapped around her finger, and they make a great pair.
Johnny had taken the break up smoothly congratulating her; they had both been sleeping around behind each other's backs, and Johnny realized he truly didn’t mind. At first it had always been Lola for him, as time went on he lost that spark, that flame, it moved on to Peanut, and Lola hadn’t minded either; they were both great friends, best friends.., okay maybe not Johnny didn’t really have a best friend but Lola definitely was best friends with that Gary creep, and she keeps up with him where he’s locked up in the mental hospital so he doesn't worry about it.
Movie night kicks off well, the people around laughing, and gasping, teeter on the edge of their seats but as the sun begins to set, and people head home Johnny stays on the couch breathing slowly as he tries not to wake his right hand resting against his shoulder.
“You should bring him up to bed Johnny.”
Norton advises, and Johnny glances at his right hand dressed in casual clothes, a torn T-shirt, and loose fitting flannel pajama pants. Johnny glances over at Norton who gives him a poignant look, and Johnny nods agreeing with his friend, and lifts up Peanut, hauling the man into his arms.
Johnny moves up the stairs over the floors they had renovated over the summer fixing it up from woking at the station, and repair shop in town a few bike shop jobs, and some odd ones equals new floors, and some more life in this place, so Johnny doesn't have to pass outside to bring Peanut up to the third floor room where Peanuts room remains lived in.
He rests Peanut into his bed, and pulls the blankets up over his chin leaving him to sleep.
It's nice, having him back like this, this fragile, frail moment is quickly disturbed by Johnny pulling away in fear of Peanut waking, finding him staring, and finding him creepy, or retreating to his dorm on campus.
.`~ ’ .
Peanut wakes warm, and feeling fuzzy he pushes himself up his gut warm with affection, and he glances around his room at the tenements, he’s home.
He gets up, and scratches at his stomach stretching with a yawn. He makes his way into the shared bathroom, and brushes his teeth, and soon he is joined by Norton, and Parker.
“You, an’ Johnny on good terms..?”
Norton grouses, and Peanut nods.
“Thank god, he was looking at you so tenderly last night.”
Parker asserts leaning his head against Norton’s shoulder as he blinks blearily at the bright light of the bathroom.
“What..?”
“Yeah, he had this smitten look on his face all doofy an’ he looked like he wanted to kiss you stupid man.”
Comes Ricky who is shirtless revealing shoulders covered in bite marks.
“Put a shirt on man, ain’t nobody wanna see that.”
Norton repermands walking away Parker on his heel, Peanut spits his mouth full of toothpaste into the sink, and walks away before Ricky can say anything else making his way down stairs into the kitchen where there is Johnny, he’s slaving away over the stove, pushing around bacon in a pan, and putting a new egg onto a plate to the left of him shifting around and smiling all bright and happy, and Peanut is blown away.
Johnny is so handsome, and devoted.
He closes his eyes, takes a breath, and steps up behind Johnny to wrap his arms around the Greaser's middle eyes closed, and head tucked.
“Peanut..?”
“Johnny.”
He responds, and Johnny chuckles, chest rising, and falling, then he’s leaning back a bit, head turning, and kissing the crown of his head.
“Mornin’.”
“Mornin’.”
Peanut smiles, kissing his shoulder. It's a display of affection, that the whole group can see and it's unabashed, and natural like they never ‘ took a break ’, or ‘ snuck around ’ they are happily together, and content.
“Oh thank god..!” Rory announces as he stares at the right hand, and the leader wrapped around each other. “A bunch of the boys were arguin’ over who we would have to go to in the divorce, an’ I wasn't ready for that.” Johnny laughs loud, and boisterous, the rest of the boys look guilty.
“Well now I gotta hear who were you all gonna pick..?”
Without hesitation a chorus of ‘Peanut’ fills the kitchen, and he kackles happily kissing Peanuts temple.
“Shit I would have too.”
Johnny says, they laugh again before stepping into a calm conversation over lunch. It’s the weeknd they will just be hanging out, or working all day, and if Johnny gets to spend it making up lost time, he doesn't mind having nothing to do today.